It was a case of fourth time lucky for the Waratah-Mayfield District Cricket Club after its talented women’s squad finally lifted the WT20 Cup this week.
After three previous attempts – and reaching the grand final of the Newcastle District Cricket Association competition on each occasion, the underdogs accounted for Newcastle City at No 1 Sportsground on Wednesday night.
And, it went right down to the wire, with Waratah-Mayfield – under the guidance of Josh and Keith Brackenbury – prevailing by seven wickets in the second-last over.
All-rounder Emma-Jayne Howe was deemed Player of the Match after picking up 1-14 and scoring 22 with the bat.
Newcastle City won the toss and elected to bat.
However, that decision backfired when openers Kate McTaggart and Sienna Eve fell for just four and three respectively, leaving the side 2-22.
Upper Hunter products Kirsten Smith and Caoimhe Bray then steadied the ship.
The former made a quick-fire 18 off 15 balls while the latter top-scored with 32, smashing four boundaries along the way.
Unfortunately, the dismissal of Bray triggered another collapse as Newcastle City lost 4-6.
Reagan Merrick (3 not out) and Katie Slater (7 not out) lifted the team’s total to 8-91.
Apart from Howe, Cassandra McLaren bagged a brilliant 2-6, Jaclyn Vickery took 2-27, Aisling Byrne chipped in with 1-8 and Paige Mathewson snared 1-14.
Set 92 for victory, Waratah-Mayfield began shakily when Vickery was run out for one.
But, Alana Ryan (24) and Howe (22) held firm, combining for a 38-run stand.
Byrne (11 not out) and Skye Lovett (10 not out) then guided the outfit to 3-95, and victory, in the 19th over.
Waratah-Mayfield’s cause was assisted by a massive 27 extras, too.
For Newcastle City, Merrick followed up with 1-6 and McTaggart secured 1-20.
Earlier in the evening, Hamwicks Cricket Club captured the WT20 Plate with Kirra Knipe named Player of the Match.
For more sports stories:
- Valley/JPC maintain the rage in Coalfields Cup
- Former Test stars head cricket clinics throughout Hunter
- Jets condemn ‘ugly’ A-League incident
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